Christenberry trained as a painter in the 1950s when Abstract Expressionism was the dominant style. Painting remained a significant part of his artistic production, and his attentiveness to the tactile qualities of his subjects was informed by extensive experience applying paint to canvas. Christenberry’s explorations of the peeling paint, weathered wood, and corrugated metal of countless buildings employ a formal sensibility that relies on bold color and rich textures as expressive tools.